Teachers strike: FG rules out TSS but...

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 Teachers strike: FG rules out TSS but...

FROM:DAILY TRIUMPH

THE two weeks old nationwide strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Union of Teachers across the country over the controversial Teachers Salary Scale (TSS) may in the ultimate be an exercise in futility, as the federal government says it is only considering an enhancement of teachers allowances.
Reading the communiqué issued at the end of their last Tuesday meeting between the representatives of the federal and state governments on the on-going teachers strike in Abuja yesterday, the minister of state for education, Mr. Jerry Agada said that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission which is the body statutorily charged with the responsibility of making recommendations on such matters was of the view that rather than creating a separate TSS, the peculiarities of the teaching profession should be identified and compensated with the payment of job related/professional allowances of varying rates.
The minister who was briefing State House correspondents in company of the minister of information, Mr. John Odey, said the Tuesday consultative meeting chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was attended by the ministers of education, labour and finance, the Head of the Service of the Federation, representatives of 19 states, and the secretary of the Wages Commission.
He noted that the meeting observed that it was the National Council on
Education (NCE) that recommended the TSS in 2003 and that each tier of government is responsible for setting the conditions of service and compensation of teachers in its employ, since education is on the Concurrent Legislative List in the 1999 Constitution.
To this end, members reaffirmed the commitment of their respective governments to commence dialogue with their state teachers unions, as the federal ministry of education will similarly engage the teachers in its schools, the minister said.
He said the meeting therefore urged the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to call off the strike immediately and embrace the offer of dialogue from the government.
The meeting expressed deep concern at the effects of the teachers strike action on the educational system as well as sympathy with the parents and their children whose daily lives and school programmes have been disrupted, Agada added.